Wow. Simply wow. I was completely blown away by the 101 performers, ages 5 to 88, who showed up and gave so much during the Culture Days performances at the Minoru Chapel.
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| Ada dancing with Morri-Lynns' Tap Dance group outside the Minoru Chapel. |
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| The Richmond Manifest, hand lettered by Martin Riesle from manifests collected April-September 2019, rolls down the Chapel aisle like a bridal train. |
From the giant badminton racket prop of the Golden Happy Seniors Players to the multi-generational, four-language, multi-instrumental performance of the City Centre Poetry Appreciation Group, the stunning dancing of the City Centre Ballroom Dance Group and the humorously moving performances by the Minoru Manifesto workshop group, and last but not least, the energetic tap dancing (and lesson!) from Morri-Lynne's Tap Dancers and the sing-along led by Anthony Morris & Tina Tam, left me grinning ear to ear.
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| Performers with the Golden Happy Seniors Players |
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| Last minute rehearsal with the Minoru Manifesto group! |
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| Morri-Lynne's Tap Dancers show off their moves. |
After spending so many hours with members of different groups discussing, planning, and rehearsing for their time in the Minoru Chapel, it was a true delight to hear and feel their energy and artistry fill the space. I loved standing in the back of the Chapel looking out over the pews filled with family, friends, and guest audience members, and then glancing outside to see curious passersby investigating the megaphone speaking station, reading the mini manifests, or admiring the bunnies in the garden (unfortunately I can't take credit for their incredible performances).
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| Alice, Matthew, and a Minoru bunny. |
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| Tuning voices and erhu outside the Chapel. |
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| Tina and Anthony's music brought out the best in the Chapel sounds. |
I helped kids (and a few adults) ring the Chapel bell and laughed alongside visitors as they read the accidental poetry of the Richmond Manifests. By the end of the weekend, the variety of people present and art forms shared felt like a living manifest of the richness of community in Richmond, and a manifesto in action for the power of sharing culture, ideas, and time together.
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| The Poetry Appreciation Group in full song. |
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| Nancy, age 88, shows no hint of slowing down during her solo recitation. |
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One of the many couples from the City Centre Ballroom Dance group showing off their moves.
(Note Julie and Christine doing their best dance impressions in the background.) |
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| The Chapel provided a beautiful backdrop to the garden dancing. |
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the weekend possible, with an especially deep bow to Irene Hwang for her friendship and enthusiasm over the last many months, Na Kapitany for her leadership and organization, Xin Xuan Song for making the weekend so smooth on so many levels, Matthew Ariaratnam for sounds and support, Stephanie Wong for design and consultation, Martin Reisle for the calligraphy, and everyone at City Centre Community Centre and Richmond Public Art for the space, connections, and assistance to bring this project to life.
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| Dream Team (from L to R): Xin Xuan, Julie, Matthew, Irene, Christine & Ada. |
Scroll below for more of Krystle Coughlin's fabulous photos.
